Ameren officials get skeptical reception

CHAMPAIGN – More than 40 people jammed a community open house Monday at Booker T. Washington Elementary School, where they heard AmerenIP officials and consultants assure them that a former manufactured gas plant site at Fifth and Hill streets does not pose an immediate health threat – even though new soil boring tests show that contamination has spread beyond the former plant site and into the surrounding neighborhood.

Residents did not appear reassured by Ameren officials' promises that the contaminants, which include the carcinogen benzene, do not pose an immediate health threat to them.

Also on this date

• Provena set to announce appeal of tax case to state's high court
• Alabama man dies in I-74 crash
• Champaign-Urbana schools see mixed results on state tests
• Unit 4 board reviews list of community goals
• Georgetown-Ridge Farm High School short of progress goal
• Ameren pleased with gas plant site investigation
• Champaign woman's program earns national award
• Officials working on final details to make Zipcars available
• Provena wants to keep $6.1 million tax refund
• Obituaries

» More